Portroe edge Borrisokane in points battle

GAA: Jim McLoughney Menswear North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Portroe 0-25

Borrisokane 0-23

Report: James Hayden at MacDonagh Park, Nenagh

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Sam Madden (Portroe)

SCORERS – Portroe: John Sheedy 0-7 (5 frees); Sam Madden 0-6 (2 s-cuts); Conor O’Brien 0-5; Diarmuid Boyle 0-3; Robert Byrne 0-2 (1 free); Liam O’Callaghan, Cian Hogan 0-1 each.

Borrisokane: Gary Ryan, Ciaran Foley (2 frees) 0-5 each; Liam Cleary, Dylan Power, Donal Cleary 0-3 each; Mike Heenan, Conor Ryan, Philip Austin, Conall Larkin 0-1 each.

Portroe edged out Borrisokane to secure a tilt at the North Tipperary Intermediate Hurling title following a titanic semi-final on Saturday .

Borrisokane went into this encounter intent on securing the opportunity to atone for last year’s North final defeat but they came up against a Portroe side with intentions of cementing their place in the decider and a chance for a first divisional title at this grade since 1990.

In essence the outcome of this encounter was decided by the sheer brilliance of Kevin O’Halloran between the sticks for Portroe. Three fantastic goal-denying saves throughout the course of the sixty minutes essentially broke Borrisokane hearts and when you factor in the fact that Port’s Sam Madden arrowed over two sublimely struck sideline cuts as well as four majestic points from play, you have the perfect recipe for the Arra men’s success.

Sam Madden’s impact was huge and Borrisokane struggled to tie down the Portroe midfielder. He found his range with ease throughout but his last point in the 63rd minute when the game was well and truly in the melting pot was an absolute belter from way out the field and a point that essentially ended Borrisokane’s hopes of progressing.

Portroe also had exceptional performances from Conor O’Brien, who knifed over five from play while centre-forward Diarmuid Boyle proved a huge threat throughout and arrowing over three from play. Madden, O’Brien and Boyle combined generated 56% of Portroe’s final tally and in the end, it proved telling.

Borrisokane will undoubtedly rue a raft of poor wides from scoring positions and in retrospect could have very easily emerged victorious if they had just been a tad more accurate in front of goal.

With little or no breeze to contend with Borrisokane opened the scoring with a Conall Larkin point but an early brace from Diarmuid Boyle coupled with a sweet Conor O’Brien effort fired Port’ into an early lead. Gary Ryan responded with the first of five from play for Borris’ but Sam Madden and Diarmuid Boyle kept the scoreboard ticking for John Sheedy’s charges.

Sam Madden arrowed over a delicious sideline cut in the eighth minute to put Port’ 0-6 to 0-3 ahead before an eleventh minute Conor O’Brien effort extended the gap to four. Portroe’s half-forward line and midfield were well on top at this stage and Borris’ required some slight re-jigging.

Dylan Power and John Sheedy exchanged points midway through the half before Ciaran Foley narrowed the gap to three with an 18th minute point. Sheedy and the impressive Donal Cleary quickly traded points as the scores kept the scoreboard ticking before a disputed 24th minute Sam Madden point which was correctly waved wide served to swing the momentum back in favour of John Egan’s charges.

Quickfire efforts from range from Ciaran Foley and Mike Heenan narrowed the gap to two before Philly Austin arrowed over to leave just a point between the sides. Port’s radar was experiencing technical difficulties at this stage with five wides on the bounce hampering their efforts to stave off a spirited Borris’ fightback and it wasn't long until the men in green and white were back on terms thanks to a 27th minute Donal Cleary effort.

With the game whizzing towards half-time Conor O’Brien were both on target for their respective sides before Ciaran Foley landed a booming effort from range to ensure Borrisokane took a slender 0-12 to 0-11 lead to the dressing room.

Portroe emerged determined to re-assert their dominance and four early points on the bounce from John Sheedy (2 frees), Cian Hogan and Robert Byrne sent Borris’ reeling. Kevin O’Halloran’s fantastic 35th minute save from a marauding Conor Ryan eventually fell to Dylan Power and he clipped the sliotar over from close-range to stem the green & gold tide.

Liam Cleary brought Borris’ back to within one once more with a 38th minute point but Portroe managed to keep Borris’ at bay with 40th minute efforts from Conor O’Brien and Sam Madden. Once more Borris’ fired back and with Oisin & Jack Larkin both drafted into the fray the deficit was quickly down to one with both Dylan Power and Liam Cleary on target, 0-17 to 0-18.

Borrisokane kept persevering and a brace of Gary Ryan points from play eventually brought them back upsides again, 0-19 apiece. Kevin O’Halloran once more came to rescue for Port’ on 51 minutes, this time denying Oisin Larkin a certain goal by sprinting from his line to throw his body in the way.

Portroe continued to pick off their scores with a brace of John Sheedy frees pushing the gap out to three with five minutes of normal time remaining but efforts from Donal Cleary and Ciaran Foley reduced the gap to one once more right on the stroke of full-time.

Cue a frantic injury time period with a sublime Sam Madden sideline cut edging the lead out to two. Gary Ryan responded with a fine effort but two further wides from Borris’ during this injury-time period proved hugely detrimental to their cause.

Madden stepped up to land an absolutely magnificent effort from way out the field and with it ensured a hard fought and hard earned yet fully deserved victory for Portroe.

TEAMS - Portroe: Kevin O’Halloran (8), Brian Keating (7), Michael Breen (7), Adrian O’Halloran (7); Liam O’Callaghan (7), Colm Gleeson (7), Robert Byrne (Capt 7); Sam Madden (8), Michael Creamer (7); Conor O’Brien (8), Diarmuid Boyle (8), Cian Hogan (7); James Ferris (7), John Sheedy (7), Oisin O’Connor (7).

Sub: Ben O’Connor (NR) for Boyle (59).

Borrisokane: Luke Gleeson (7); Joseph Murphy (7), Peter Collins (7), James Hough (7); Diarmuid Hogan (7), Mike Heenan (Capt 7), Conor Ryan (7); Ciaran Foley (7), Mike Kelly (7); Gary Ryan (7), Liam Cleary (7), Dylan Power (7); Donal Cleary (7), Philip Austin (7), Conall Larkin (7).

Subs: Oisin Larkin (6) for Kelly (41); Jack Larkin (6) for C Larkin (41); Shane Stapleton (6) for Power (48).

Referee: Alan Graham (Roscrea).